Executive Sous Chef

Cana isn't just a restaurant, and it isn't just a bar — it's a Brazilian boteco. Live-fire energy, fresh-pressed sugar cane, a 700-record vinyl collection, and a dining room that runs loud and full in the heart of Adams Morgan. We cook food rooted in Brazil, executed with discipline, served with genuine hospitality.

We're looking for a Sous Chef who wants to be part of that — not just run a line.

The Role

You'll be the right hand to our Executive Sous Chef and a daily leader in the kitchen. This is a hands-on position for someone who cooks with pride, leads by example, and wants real ownership: menu execution, food cost, training, and the standard of every plate that leaves the pass.

This is a growth seat. Cana is part of UnOrdinary Hospitality Group, a James Beard-recognized brand with a second concept already open and a third in development — strong performers here move up.

What You'll Own

• Service leadership — Run the line during high-volume services; keep the kitchen calm, fast, and consistent when the room is packed
• Menu execution — Prep, cook, and plate to spec; protect consistency while contributing ideas as the menu evolves
• Food cost & inventory — Help drive costing, ordering, and inventory discipline (we run MarginEdge — experience is a plus, not required)
• People — Train, mentor, and hold the team to a high standard without burning it down; build cooks, not just covers
• Standards — Health, sanitation, and safety compliance, every shift, no exceptions
• Partnership — Tight communication with the chef and FOH so the whole house moves as one

What You Bring

• 1+ years leading in a high-volume kitchen (Sous Chef, Lead/Senior Line Cook, or equivalent)
• Real cooking chops — strong fundamentals, clean technique, urgency without sloppiness
• A working grasp of food cost and inventory, or the drive to master it fast
• Composure when it's loud, hot, and busy — because it will be
• Love for Brazilian and South American food, or genuine curiosity to go deep on it
• Spanish and/or Portuguese a plus, not required

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience + bonus potential
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off 
• Dining discounts across the group
• A clear growth path inside a growing hospitality company — we promote from within

How to Apply

Send your resume and a few lines about why this kitchen — not just any kitchen. We read everything.